Shadequarter Mastication Project
Summary
SCH Number
2019070316
Public Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Shadequarter Mastication Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/14/2019
Document Description
This project is located 1 mile south east from Shadequarter Mountain, CA; 4 miles north from Three Rivers, CA; and 23 miles north east from Visalia, CA. The vegetation consists of stands of mixed chaparral, canyon live oak and Valley Oak woodlands. The project area is in the middle of the Foothill Woodland and Mixed Chaparral communities. Elevation ranges from approximately 1,000 - 4,200 feet. This proposed project will include treating Fire Control Roads using a masticator, roadside brushing, pile burning and existing road surface repair (roadbed grading). The fuel break will encompass a total of 305 acres, and will be up to 200 feet wide. Project specifics include mastication up to 100 feet on either side of the existing road. Where the slope is too steep for the heavy equipment the roadside brush clearing will be conducted by hand crews. Cut vegetation will be piled and burned on site when appropriate and on allowable bum days. Large mature trees will not be removed. This project will decrease the density of heavy chaparral and live oak thickets and will reduce existing fuel loads to create and maintain a safer fuel level providing greater defensible space for ingress and egress.
Contact Information
Name
Len Nielson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire (CAL FIRE)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Tulare
Other Location Info
See attached NOE
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15304, Class 4
Reasons for Exemption
This project fits under portions of Class 4, § 15304 - Minor Alterations to Land Categorical Exemption to CEQA. Field review by CAL FIRE staff confirmed that no exceptions apply that would preclude the use of a notice of exemption for this project. The Department has concluded that no significant environmental impact would occur to aesthetics, agriculture and forestland or timberland, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, land use planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation or traffic, or to utilities and service systems. Documentation of the environmental review completed by the Department is kept on file at CALFIRE's Tulare Unit Headquarters 1968 South Lovers Lane, Visalia CA 93292.